Preservation Magazine

Proving that cats always land on their feet, a 49-year-old neon sign in Los Angeles inched closer to historic designation earlier this month.

The city's Cultural Heritage Commission voted 4-1 on July 12 to recommend the Felix Chevrolet sign for designation as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. At the meeting, however, representatives of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and a city councilmember opposed the designation, saying it could impede development of the area.

Last month, during a $1.5 million renovation of the Middlebury Inn in Middlebury, Vt., workers uncovered one of the original entrances to the hotel, built in 1827.

"When they were dismantling the wall, lo and behold, we started to see a finished brick opening," says Jeff Costello, general manager, who watched the June 19 discovery. "It was really intriguing. When we saw that, we changed the whole scope of the project."... Read More →

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Some of the city's historic buildings in need will receive $1 million through Partners in Preservation, a program that American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the World Monuments Fund launched last year.

Last November, the National Trust announced that 13 historic sites in San Francisco would split $1 million after residents voted for their favorites. Of the 25 options, Bay Area voters overwhelmingly supported Bernard Maybeck's First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Berkeley, Calif.

One of Houston's last historic blocks will be leveled for a 47-story office tower.

Local developer Hines, which erected another skyscraper in 2003, plans to start construction on the 900-square-foot building in March.

Three historic buildings will disappear early next year: the 1912 Beatty-West Building, the 1940 former Bond Clothes store, and the 1913 Montegu Hotel. The developer will save one historic building on the block, the Stowers Building, a recently restored structure built in 1913.

The PreservationNation blog features stories, news, and notes from the National Trust for Historic Preservation as well as the wider preservation movement. Have a great story to share? Email us! And visit PreservationNation.org to learn more about people saving places.

The Fine Print

While the writers of the PreservationNation blog are on staff at the National Trust for Historic Preservation or affiliated organizations, their posts are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.